World's best first class lounges

Nobody wants their flight to be delayed. But there's one group of travellers who respond to that "we apologise for any inconvenience caused" announcement with a nonchalant shrug, maybe even a smile.

Those are the travellers ensconced in the first class lounge where that extra hour can mean time for a second course of restaurant-grade food, another glass or two from a fully-stocked bar, or even a last-minute visit to a beauty spa for a pre-flight facial.

Some first class lounges offer the ultimate escape for weary globetrotters: a private room.

First class lounges are less about simply waiting for your flight, and more like a five-star escape from the masses.

These spacious and stylish sanctuaries are a cut above the business lounges favoured by most frequent flyers and business class passengers. As the name indicates, first class lounges are aimed at the well-heeled high flyers who travel in the pointiest end of the plane.

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However, many first class lounges also welcome top-tier members of an airline's frequent flyer scheme. For example, a Platinum member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme can luxe it up in the Qantas First Lounge at Sydney and Melbourne international airports – even if they're actually flying in economy.

And, as first class lounges go, the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney is easily among the world's best.

Designed by Marc Newson, the architecture is stunning. Dramatic wooden spars cambered like the inside of an airplane wing square off against full-length windows with views over the runway and to the city skyline beyond.

The gourmet food, wine and service are what you'd expect from an up-market bistro, and many dishes share ingredients from Neil Perry's restaurants, such as Australian wagyu beef.

Visitors can avail themselves of a free session in the Payot day spa offering a range of treatments such as moisturising facials, manicures and massages.

Spas are the hot ticket at first class lounges, with many airlines invoking their own twist.

The swish Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London's Heathrow Airport combines its day spa with a Bumble & Bumble salon to get your hair styled or grab a quick trim and tidy-up.

Thai Airways' Royal Orchid Spa Lounge at Bangkok lays on the full Thai spa treatment with elegantly appointed treatment suites and a choice of oils for your full-body massage.

Finnair's international lounge at Helsinki boasts a truly Scandinavian spa with four different types of sauna, an icy plunge pool and two warm pools, complete with loungechairs overlooking the runway and the lush fir forest beyond.

Some first class lounges offer the ultimate escape for weary globetrotters: a private room.

The British Airways Concorde Room at London Heathrow boasts a handful of hotel-like 'cabana rooms' with a day bed, en suite bathroom and full room service, including giving your shirt, pants or skirt a quick press.

And while most international airlines have first class lounges, Lufthansa goes one better with an entire terminal dedicated to passengers flying in first class from their home base in Frankfurt.

Lufthansa's First Class Terminal is less like a lounge than a private luxury hotel, with its own check-in desk and security checkpoints. The bar stocks more than 80 different kinds of whiskey, there's a separate cigar lounge and several soaking baths.

And when it's time for your flight, passengers are chauffeur-driven from the terminal onto the tarmac and right up to the plane's first-class stairway in a Mercedes-Benz or Porsche.

And in this highly competitive end of the market, airlines can't afford to lounge around when it comes to putting their deluxe digs on show.

Cathay Pacific's The Wing First Class lounge at Hong Kong will reopen in February next year, after a six-month renovation.

The lounge's popular cabana rooms with their own oversized bathtub will remain, while the restaurant has been enlarged and will feature an a la carte menu with the kitchen managed by Hong Kong's iconic Peninsula Hotel.

Singapore Airlines begins a worldwide refresh of its SilverKris lounges in March next year, with Sydney the first to receive what the airline promises to be a highly stylised makeover from Singapore-based architectural and interior design firm Ong & Ong.

Qantas is also on a roll, with new lounges slated for in Singapore and Hong Kong in 2013 plus new business and first lounges for Los Angeles across 2013-2014.

Yet for all their appeal, first class lounges aren't the final word in airport snob value.

That honour belongs to the even more rarified world of the VIP lounge.

These are strictly invitation-only affairs to stroke elite egos: politicians, A-list celebrities and the upper ranks of Australia's largest companies, especially those who shovel a substantial amount of their travel budget towards an airline.

Qantas operates the super-elite Chairman's Lounge, which its CEO Alan Joyce once said described as "probably the most exclusive club in the country".

The Chairman's Lounge is aptly named: the Chairman of Qantas, Leigh Clifford, personally signs off on each membership application. Virgin Australia is building an equivalent network of lounges known simply as The Club.

However, airlines are loathe to discuss these lounges beyond acknowledging their existence and it's rare to even see photos of what lies beyond those frosted glass doors.

It all seems a bit like Fight Club: the first rule of belonging to a VIP lounge is that you don't talk about it.

19 comments

Finnair no longer have their spa. It closed months ago.

Commenter

Frequent Flyer

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 3:04PM

My work took me many times to Singapore so thanks to squillions of frequent flyer miles I am well aquainted with their first class lounges. Basically I can say there is little difference between the First and Business class lounges except for the food and drink. And it was only Terminal 2 in Singapore (if I remember correctly) that had the chef on hand and served Krug champagne and Johnny Walker Blue Label.

Commenter

Jezz

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 3:24PM

I used to have access to these First Class lounges when I traveled a lot. I was Platinum Qantas so had access to the really nice lounges in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the Cathay First Class lounge in Hong Kong, which was, well, first-class!

Loved them, they and First Class check-in are worth their weight in gold.

Since I no longer travel on business, they are just a distant but fond memory. Mind you, spending more than an hour or two in these places at a time means you have poor planning skills and no life.

Commenter

AussieRob

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 3:33PM

As a QF Platinum member I can only agree with the comments. Though there is a difference between the QF Club and the First Lounge it's mainly hot food available, but nonetheless a pleasant experience away from the hurly-burly. Also I get sick to death of whinging, whining once a year or occasional travelers bitching about Qantas. If you don't like the service or you think you are that special or that the airline is your personal taxi, then drive to your el cheapo ticket destination or head to the caravan park instead

Commenter

graham s

Location

murrumbeena

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 4:06PM

The other half? More like the 1% and as a frequent visitor to these lounges, would like to keep it that way.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Sydney

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 4:07PM

I once spent time in BA first class lounge at JFK and it was basically a business lounge with a very nice restaurant attached. The Cathay Business Lounge in HK is awesome - I can't imagine how much better their First Class lounge could be?

Commenter

StBob

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 4:46PM

St bob. The 1st @ HK (CX) is not that much better than business. It's a big terminal and depending on where you've arrived not worth the extra 15 min walk either way.Actually CX Business lounge is the best in the world with QF Sydney the best 1st.

Commenter

Aesop

Location

Wgong

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 7:04PM

StBob: Cathay's old First Class at The Wing HK had a good menu and those cabanas but was very crowded. The new Business Lounge at The Wing has really upped the ante, but that will give you an idea of how much better the new First Class lounge will need to be when it opens in February!

Commenter

David

Date and time

December 20, 2012, 10:40AM

Can you imagine sharing a room full of politicians and the fattest of the fat cats? Imagine being associated with that bunch and mistaken for them! It makes mediocrity even more appealing!

Commenter

Nincompoop

Location

Right behind you

Date and time

December 19, 2012, 5:10PM

And imagine their faces when I walk in with smelly, noisy toddlers.......